Plumber&#39;s clamp.



A. L. VROMAN. PLU'MBERS CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR-10.19I5.

L1@6,4. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

III/1% A. 1. VFOM'MITI/ AUSTIN L. VROMAN, OF MEDFORJD, OREGON.

PLUMBERS CLAMP.

intense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec; 2d, 1915.

Application filed April 10, 1915. Serial No. 20,t92.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, AUSTIN L. VRoMAiI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medford, in the county of Jackson and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Plumbers Clamps, of which the following is a'specification. 1 This invention relates to plumbers clamps for use in holding elements together in making wiped or rolling joints, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, inexpensive, reliable and eficient construction of devices of this characterfor securely holding together in position a brass ferrule or nipple and a lead pipe, whereby the joint may be quickly and conveniently formed without the necessity of blocking up or weighting to hold the elements in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character described which may be adjusted to suit different lengths and diameters of parts to be joined, which .may be easily and conveniently applied and removed, which will operate without injury tothe parts clamped thereby, and which will take care of any expansion of the parts due to the heat from the joint,

1 portions pivotally connected, as at 6 and bent The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which I Figure 1 is. a view of the clamp as it appears with the jaws in. closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the clamping cone in section, and also showing the jaws spread and the device applied for clamping a lead pipe and brass nipple together. Fig.

3 is a detail transverse section through the.

rod and gripping jaws taken on a line through the gripping shoes. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the, rod and gripping jaws taken on a line through the pivots of the jaws. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification. Fig. 6 is vertical transverse of Fig. 5.

The device comprises a rod or shank 1, which may be of suitable length and diameter, and which is provided at one end for a desired distance of its length with screw threads 2. At its opposite end the rod or shankis formed or provided with a wedgeshape spreader 3 for cooperation with a pair of clamping jaws 4 and 5. These jaws have section on the line 6-6 or formed to provide a sleeve 7 which slidably engages the rod or shank l, the constructlon being such that the jaws are movable longitudinally on the rod, and are also pivoted to swing laterally in directions toward and from each other for closing and openlng movements. As shown each jaw 4- and 5comprises a comparatively long and narrow body, the said jaws being formed with guide grooves or channels 8 on their 1111161" faces to receive and engage the wedgeshape spreader 3, whereby the jaws are held from lateral deflection in plane at right angles to their plane of pivotal motion and a firm and secure connection between the aws, spreader and rod afiorded. Each jaw is also provided with a renewable gripping member 9 upon the outer face thereof, which gripping member preferably consists of a H body or block of lead or other comparatively soft material which is adapted to engage the pipes or object without scratching or other wise marrmg or injuring the same. Slidably mounted on the rod or shank 1 is a clamping cone or member 10, and engaging the threaded end 2 of the rod is a winged. ad usting and clamping nut 11. Surrounding the rod or shank between this nut and the clampingcone 10 is a coiled spring 12,

which is adapted for adjustment by the nut to hold the clamping cone in clamping position,while permitting of a yielding recession 7 thereof to permit and compensate for expansion of the parts due to the heat from the joint.

The device may be used for clamping various elements together in making wiped or rolling joints, but in Fig. 2 have illustrated one mode of use, which is sufficient to indicate in general the purposes of.the invention. The device is shown in this particular for clamping a brass ferrule 13 against the endof a lead pipe 14 and to hold said parts assembled for the production of a' wiped joint 15. In use, the ferrule 13 is fitted upon the end of the pipe 14 and the end of the rod carrying the clamping jaws inserted through the ferrule and into the pipe and the clamping cone 10 brought into position to fit within the ferrule. The rod is then adjusted to project the clamping jaws through the action of the wedge 3, by which the gripping members 9 are forced into gripping engagement with the pipe,

ment. The nut 11 is then adjusted to bring the spring 12 into contactwith the inserted cone 10 and to adjust said spring to the desired resisting tension. The pipe and ferrule will thereupon be firmly bound together so that the joint 15 maybe formed in a ready and convenient manner. If there should be any expansion of the parts 13 and 14: due to the heat fromthe joint it will be evident that this will be permitted by outward movement of the conical clamp permitted by yielding action of the spring, thus efiectually preventing cracking of or other injury to the formed joint.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction, mode of operation and advantages of my improved plumbers clamp will be readily understood, and the advantages thereof appreciated. lit will, of course, be understood that the device may also be used for holding a nipple and pipe assembled, and for performing various other similar operations in a reliable and efiicient manner.

Instead of the'jaws 4 and 5 being provided with the gripping members 9, said jaws may consist of channeled members 4: and 5', as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which are pivotally connected by pins or bolts 15 to ears 16 carried by segmental gripping members 17, which construction adapts the' grippers to have greater flexibility for adjustment to conform to the surface of the pipel i. Furthermore, as the part 17 may be made of sheet steel, a greater bearing on the lead pipe may be obtained to prevent it from flattening under pressure, while the use of lead gripping members or large gripping blocks is avoided.

'1 claim 1. A plumbers clamp comprising a rod or shank, a pair of pivoted clamping jaws slide ably mounted upon one of said red or shank, said jaws having" grooved guide sur faces, a spreader upon e red er shank en gaging said grooved guide surfaces, whereby through relative iongitudinal motions between the rod the latter may be spread or permitted 'to close, a cooperating clamping member slidably mounted on the shank, and means for securing said clamping member in position.

2. A plumbers clamp comprising a rod or shank, clamping means at one end of said rod or shank including laterally movable clamping jaws and means for controlling the same, a sliding clamping element upon the shank, a nut adjustable upon the opposite end of the shank, and a coiled clamping and resistance spring upon the shank between said sliding clamping element and the nut.

3. A plumbers clamp comprising a rod or shank, a wedge-shape spreader at one end thereof, grooved clamping jaws slidably and pivotally engaging the shank and arranged for cooperation with said spreader, a clamping member on the shaft, and means for adjustably retaining the same in position.

4:. A plumbers clamp comprising a rod or shank, a wedge-shape spreader at one end thereof, a pair of grooved clamping jaws slidably and pivotally mounted upon the shank for cooperation with said spreader, renewable soft metal clamping members carried by said jaws, a clamping member slidably mounted on the shank for cooperation with the jaws, means for retaining said clamping member in position.

5. A plumbers clamp comprising a rod or shank, gripping mechanism at one end of said rod or shank, including jaws adapted to be moved into and out of gripping position by a relative longitudinal motion of shank, clamping cone slidably mounted or. the shank, a nut adjustable on the shank ldl a coiled resistance spring upon t between the nut and cone.

of two witnesses.

AUSTIN L. VRClvInlL any whereof I aliix my signature 

